Heller Concedes To Jacky Rosen In U.S. Senate Race

Republican Dean Heller says he takes the blame for his loss to Democrat Jacky Rosen in Nevada's U.S. Senate race.

Tuesday, November 6th 2018, 6:53 PM PST

Updated:

Wednesday, November 7th 2018, 12:48 AM PST

12:43 a.m.

Democrat Jacky Rosen says she's humbled by her win over incumbent Republican Dean Heller in the U.S. Senate race in Nevada.

Rosen took the stage at a Nevada Democratic Party event at Caesars Palace, where she once worked as a waitress four decades ago.

She said President Donald Trump had said he was on the ballot in the election and she was "really proud to say that Nevada responded accordingly."

Rosen says she wants to work in getting a $15 an hour minimum wage, ease college loan debt for students and pass "common-sense gun safety legislation."

The first-term congresswoman and former computer programmer becomes Nevada's second female senator and second Democratic senator.

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12:18 a.m.

Democrat Jacky Rosen has defeated incumbent Republican Dean Heller in a hard-fought battle for a U.S. Senate seat in Nevada, giving Democrats a key pickup in the chamber.

Rosen on Tuesday ousted Heller, who has been in office since he was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2011.

Heller was considered the most vulnerable Republican running for re-election to the U.S. Senate this year as the only one seeking another term in a state that Hillary Clinton won in 2016. He conceded earlier in the night.

Heller was once a critic of President Donald Trump, but the two have become allies. Rosen painted Heller as a rubber stamp for the president and counted on backlash to Trump to help her oust the incumbent.

Rosen's win puts Nevada with half a dozen other states represented by U.S. senators who are both female. Nevada's other senator is Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto.

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12:01 a.m.

Republican Dean Heller says he takes the blame for his loss to Democrat Jacky Rosen in Nevada's U.S. Senate race.

Heller said in a concession speech in Las Vegas that Rosen and the Democratic Party had a great race up and a "blue wave" all down the ballot in Nevada.

He says his party is going to have to "come back together" and decide how it's going to go forward.

The senator says it's the first time he's had to call his opponent and make a concession call in three decades.

He cited the 2017 GOP tax law he helped write and the confirmation of judges to the U.S. Supreme Court as "generational changes" he was proud of achieving while in office.

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11:54 a.m.

Republican Sen. Dean Heller has conceded to Democratic Rep. Jacky Rosen in a battleground race for U.S. Senate in Nevada.

The Associated Press has not yet called the race.

Heller has been in office since he was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2011.

He was considered the most vulnerable Republican running for re-election to the U.S. Senate this year as the only one seeking another term in a state that Hillary Clinton won in 2016.

Heller was once a critic of President Donald Trump, but the two have become allies. Rosen painted Heller as a rubber stamp for the president and counted on backlash to Trump to help her oust the incumbent.

Rosen's win puts Nevada with half a dozen other states represented by U.S. senators who are both female. Nevada's other senator is Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto.

The Associated Press reports that Rosen dominated among self-identified liberals and Heller among conservatives, but moderates broke heavily for Rosen. Rosen also led among urban and suburban voters, while Heller carried those in small towns.

Heller appeared to lead his Democratic rival among white voters. Whites with a college education were divided in their support, and whites without a college degree appeared to prefer Heller.

Rosen had a sizable advantage among black voters and also had a sizable advantage among Hispanic voters.